QUEBEC CARNIVAL SYMBOLISM

The most famous symbol of Carnaval is Le Bonhomme. His outfit includes a black-buttoned white coat, white mittens, a red cap and an arrow head traditional sash.One month before Carnaval, Le Bonhomme arrives to receive the keys of the city and becomes master of Québec.Le Bonhomme presides as host at all Carnaval festivities, dances, parties, contests and events.

The arrowhead sash has remained a symbol in Quebecois society In the 19th century, this belt was used to tie jackets at the waist to prevent the cold from creeping in. It also supported the kidneys in moments of physical effort. It was both a practical and fashionable accessory, worn by both the bourgeois and the peasants.

The best way to warm up is to move and dance, and to put you in the mood, nothing works better than the long red trumpets carnival-goers toot throughout the parade circuits.

 

Québec City is divided into seven duchés during Carnaval time. Traditionally the Carnaval queen was chosen through the sale of candles. Candles are sold before the Carnaval and their sales help finance all the Carnaval events which are free to the public. Buying a candle gives the purchaser a chance to win many valuable prizes. For every candle sold, a ticket is put into a barrel and on the opening night of Carnaval, names are drawn from the barrel. The first duchess to have her name pulled five times becomes La Reine du Carnaval.

 

 Place Carnaval is the location of the magnificent Ice Palace and also the area where many of the Carnaval activities take place. At Place Carnaval, Carnaval is officially opened and the Queen is crowned.

History records that in the First Crusade Bohemund I, a Norman lord, had red crosses cut from his mantles and distributed to the 10,000 crusaders, who wore them as a distinctive badge on their garments.
In subsequent crusades, each nation was distinguished by a cross of a different colour. France long had a red cross on its banners while England used a white cross. In the course of history, red and white alternated as the national colours of France and England.
Hence red colour has been used for the cap and the sash.

 

 

QUEBEC AND CELEBRATION

Watch artists from around the world create snow sculptures,and showcase their talent as their form of celebration.

 

Admire a parade of colorful decorated floats and zany characters dancing and celebrating to lively music. 

 

Severe winter conditions do not stop these brave souls from wearing bathing suits and enjoying the snow bath.This shows that nothing matters or can stop you when you have got the attitude of celebration.

 

A marching band performs in front of Bonhomme's Ice Palac.This shows that obedience and discipline also form a part of celebration.

 

Ride the ice slide,for celebration brings back the child in you.

 

Indulge in maple syrup taffy and hot caribou to be a part of celebration.

 

Tour Bonhomme’s ice palace,its where the celebration starts and ends.

 

Buckle up and energize yourself for a giant game of foosball for any celebration is incomplete if it lacks energy.

 

Tired of doing activities? Be a spectator of ice canoe race then!

A Gigantic playground for whole family,for family forms the core part of any celebration.Celebrating with family gives you inner joy and happiness.

 

Let the music move you at the outdoor dance party

Need some rest? Ice hotel is the appropriate place to sooth your nerves after celebrating carnival with pomp and glory.

 

 

CONCEPT OF CELEBRATION

Now it's a celebration 

 Oh guys let's celebrate
Yeah it's a celebration
Oh guys  let's celebrate

According to me celebration is not about having good food and dancing all night, it’s the attitude of celebration that matters.Its not about celebrating for the sake of it,its about forgetting everything,keeping your mind light and being happy and enjoying to the fullest.

You feel lighter than a feather 

Your heart seems to lit up

You feel like jumping so that you could touch the sky

You feel peaceful and contended

 Celebration does not merely mean to party all night.Its the feeling that matters more.When you are in the mood of celebration everything you do or see seems colourful and jolly.

 

 

There is no place in the world to celebrate the snow like Quebec. From endless winter sports like skiing, snowboarding and dog sledding, to mouth watering food and dancing in the streets, there are festivals throughout the province that take you outside to celebrate winter. Join travelers from all over the world as together, we celebrate the beauty of the winter months.

 

ORIGIN

The habitants of New France created a rowdy tradition of getting together just before Lent to eat, drink and be merry. The custom of celebrating from the end of January until mid-February has long been popular.

In the early 1890s, the North American economy was very slow. The Québec City area was particularly hard hit with the definitive closing of its shipyards and emerging problems in the shoe manufacturing industry.

On October 19, 1893, the owner of the Quebec Daily Telegraph, Frank Carrel, used the columns of his newspaper to launch the idea of a new carnival in Québec City.